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Technology and Communication
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Telephone
Many countries have national phone companies that charge very high local and international phone rates and quality is not very good. Calling from house to house can cost much more than local calls within the US. If you are staying with a host family it is important to discuss your phone privileges before you attempt local calls. Many host families will not allow local calls. 95% of students now buy mobile phones. Prices range between $50 & $85. Incoming calls are often free, so parents and friends can call you directly from the US and elsewhere. Also, text messaging is quite popular and inexpensive. AU recommends using CellHire to purchase phones prior to departure.
For calling the US, you would be best served by using an international calling card.
You can use phone cards at pay phones or the phone in your home (it should be free from the home, too) for the calls. It should be kept in mind that calls to the states are far more expensive than calls from the states to you. Contact your long distance carrier in the US to find out what your best deal is. In many cases, it is less expensive to purchase a calling card in your host country; rather than using the calling card of an American company.
For dialing the US, internationally, the US country code is (001) - followed by the local area code and phone number. For example, the phone number to the AU Abroad office from abroad is 001-202-885-1320. You should write down your primary contact number (i.e.. your parents' phone number), and practice calling the number when you first arrive in your host country. Likewise, you should research how your US contacts should dial your host country, and leave that information with them before you go abroad.
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Mail
It is possible that the mail system in your host country may not be as modern and convenient as in the US. Letters and postcards to the US may cost more than here. By sending post air mail, the delivery time will be the quickest - from Europe it takes about a week to reach the States; postcards take longer. Make sure to specify air mail when you are sending a letter - they do not assume it. It is important to keep in mind that receiving packages can be a hassle - you might need to go to a certain post office at a certain time to pick them up.
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Computers
Students will not have access to the typical American
"24 hour computing center" while abroad, students
should expect limited access to computers and printers.
Students may or may not have internship access in
their housing. Keep in mind that going abroad will
require making adjustments to your host environment.
The means of communications you have been accustomed
to in the US will likely have to change as well, as
computer facilities are limited and phone service
costly. Broadband or Wireless service is also far
less common in most places outside the U.S. Some programs
will have access to computers through the school they
attend during specified times. Also, in many major
cities there are internet/computer cafes which offer
inexpensive rates.
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E-mail and the Internet
We recommend that you set up a web based e-mail account (such as yahoo) before you go abroad. We also recommend that you have your university email account messages forwarded to your web based e-mail account. You must notify AU Abroad immediately of any changes to your email address since email is our main form of contact.
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Considerations for Taking Your Laptop Abroad
It is your decision whether or not you wish to bring your computer with you. In deciding what to do, we suggest you consider the following:
- Consult a specialist to discuss issues such as
electrical transformers and adapters. Visit an electrical
supply store such as Radio Shack or Circuit City
or call your manufacturer for details.
- If you plan to hook your laptop up to an internet provider in your host country, you may need a converter for the phone plug. Although internet service may be available in the US at a minimal monthly cost, it may be much more expensive abroad.
In many cases, local calls are toll calls. It may be difficult or even impossible to receive an "itemized" phone bill. If you stay with a host family, it is unlikely they would allow you to use the phone line for your computer.
- Consult your program abroad on whether or not
you need a laptop. Some program directors (i.e.
in Berlin) highly recommend that students bring
laptops. Some do not think they are necessary.
- Think about whether you feel comfortable traveling with an expensive item such as a laptop.
- You may be required to carry a receipt or other documentation for customs purposes.
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